Screw conveyer drive assembly



Dec. 23,1941. ABRAHAM 2,266,945

SCREW CONVEYER DRIVE ASSEMBLY Filed June 3, 1940 a I A Y WNW 32 Patented Dec. 23, 1941 it UNITED "STATES QFFICE SCREW CONVEYER, nmwsmmy Clarence 'F. Abraham, Chicago; Ill.,'. assignor to Screw Conveyor Corporation,iHa nmond,ZIiid.,' a corporation of Illinois; 1 V j Application June a, 1940; Se1'ial No.;338 ,'531

2 Claims. (01119 -213) V shaft bearings. The units ID and I5 are also The present invention relates to improvements inthe drive assemblies for screw conveyer apwparatus, and the essential purpose of the invention is to provide a more efficient arrangement and enclosed type of construction for the connections from the countershaft drive to the conveyer, which will not only maintain an effective drive relation but also accommodate changes or adjustments in the installation with a minimum of diiiiculty or disturbance of the drive connections.

For accomplishing this purpose, separate units are provided for the countershaft and gear vmeans for connecting and disconnecting said units asmay be required. The gear case unit .may thus be handled and any changes or adjustments made without disturbing the alinement of the conveyer, and is moreover constructed formaintaining an effective seal for lubricants.

The improved construction further embodies a design adapted to take up any end thrust of the shafts, including the connections to the drive end of the conveyer.

Having these general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing showing a construction adapted for embodying the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating a construction embodying the present features of improvement;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, on a slightly larger scale; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, representing a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this illustrates a conventional type of conveyer box or housing 5 for the operation of a spiral or screw type of conveyer 6 driven in the usual manner by means of a drive end shaft or gudgeon l Which is adapted to be coupled in any desired manner, as indicated at 8, to the axis or shaft 9 of the conveyer 6.

For making a drive connection between said conveyer and the usual countershaft drive, I provide an assembly made up of an end bearing unit It] adapted for attachment (as by means of screws l2) to the saddle or flange structure 14 of the conveyer box or housing, and also a gear formed with base-supporting portions I and I, respectively, whereby said units may be positioned and anchored with the drive elements also .accurately positioned in their properly alined drive relation, as hereinafter described.

The bearing unit In is constructed with a bearing sleeve or extension I! formed with a flange lsz-adapted-to'ybe secured by. screws to the side of the' gear case unit I5, as clearly shown in Figure 2: ,This sleeve or extension I1 is also formed withsuitable internal bearing seats 2| 7 for the mountingof antifriction bearings such as Timken bearing assemblies 22, and in such a manner astooppose end thrust in either direction,,ofwthe. drive end I, the free end of which drive; end also carries a bevel ,gear' 24 keyed thereto and secured (as by set screws 25 and a clamp nut 26) in abutting 20- .relation to the adjacent bearing 22(Figure2).

For cooperatingwith said clamp nut 26 in securing and retaining the parts in this assembled'relation the drive end 1 is provided with a hub orgcollar 23 in-position to back up the outer case unit I5 for the drive gearing and counterhearing structure 22, as shown.

The gear 24 meshes with a bevel drive pinion 2'! keyed to the countershait 28, which in turn is journaled in antifriction bearings, such as Timken bearing assemblies 29, also arranged in counterthrust relation and accommodated in bearing plates 30 attached by screws 32 to opposite sides of the gear case I 5 (see Figure 3). The pinion 2'! is secured in abutting relation to one of said bearings 29, and is mounted between said pinion and the other bearing assembly 29, as shown.

The top of the gear case I5 is open, as indicated at 36, and provided with a cap plate 38 removably secured by screws 40, whereby access may be had to the interior of after explained.

Removable plugs 42 are also provided for use in connection with the supply of a lubricant; and suitable lubricant closures or seals 44 and 44' are fitted outside the several bearing assemblies 22 and 29 as shown. The seal 44 is shown as of a duplex type adapted not only to prevent the escape of lubricant from the outer bearing 22 but also to prevent the passage of any material from the conveyer box or housing.

With such improved arrangement and construction, definite and material advantages are gained over prevailing types of screw conveyer drives. For in the present improved construction, separate and independent units are provided a spacing sleeve 34 I the case, as herein-' for the gear case and countershaft and for the drive end to the conveyer, which is an important and desirable feature from the standpoint not only of installation purposes but also as regards maintenance operations requiring changes and adjustments from time to time. For example, where manipulation of the gear unit is required, as for installing a longer countershaft to drive an additional convey'erunit therefrom, this "can be accomplished'with' a minimumof disturbance of the connections by removal of the cover plate 38 and the gears to change the countershaft, and without in any way afiectingfithe conveyer 'as'-'- sembly since the gears can be removed from position and the gear case ldetached from the unit without any"disturbance"whatever of the drive end to the conveyer. This is in distinct contrast to the manipulation necessary for the servicing of conventional designs in which the gear housing and drive end bearing structure lent inmany of the conventionaldesigns but also to take up an end thrust in both" of the shaft mountings; 1 1:

:It is to be noted further that the design of the improved construction'is alsoof such a char-'- acter as to eliminate excessive= size proportions aswell as excessivmweight -in the structural design; and that the 'same is equally well adapted for either the steel or wood-type of' conveyer boxes. 1

Having therefore illustrated and described what I regard as a practical and efilcient arrangement and construction for fulfilling the desired objects of my improvements, I desire to reserve the right to make all such changes or modifications which may be deemed to fall fairly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

'What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A drive construction for screw conveyer apparatus comprising an end bearing unit having means'for detachable connection with one end of a screw conveyer trough or housing and forming the end wall therefor, said unit being also formed with a base supporting portion and. a

sleeve bearing structure for the drive end to the conveyer', -a gear case unit detachably connected with said first unit and comprising counters'ha'ft" bearings and gearing for connection with said drive end and also formed'with a'base supporting portion cooperating with said first base. supporting" portion to support said drive elements: in their properly alined drive relation. drive construction for'scre'w "conveyer apparatus comprising a driveend shaftfor resaid firs'tunit and comprisingcountershaftbearings' and gearing including" agear' r'emovably mounted on said drivend shaft; andco'unte'rthrust bearings withinsaid bearing sleeve portion in abutting relation, respectively; with said -collar andthe gear on'saiddrive'end shaft.

CLARENCE F. ABRAHAM. 

